Dancing with Rose

As she watched her mother succumb to Alzheimer's, the author, a journalist, did not know how to care for her. Afterward, she immersed herself in research and became a resident assistant at a state-of-the-art Alzheimer's facility. This is Kessler's account of her work there and her memories of her experiences with her mother. Ruth Ann Phimister leads us through this strange medical territory, combining facts, memories, and anecdotes that describe Kessler's journey to discover the people locked inside this disease. As the author charts her growing compassion for the residents and uncovers clues to their personalities, she also describes those who do the relentless work of aiding them. Phimister's voice calms listeners as the author finds gifts to minister to the residents and to herself. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine